Famous foreign writers. What to read: the best modern writers

A good book is much more than a way to “kill time.” Wanting to get acquainted with unusual worlds, mysterious and strong characters and incredible adventures, the reader should take a closer look at the works of the most popular modern writers. Below are the most striking and famous works of recent decades - top 10 best modern books!

1. 11/22/63 (Stephen King)

Topping our list of the best modern books is Stephen King's science fiction novel 11/22/63. The first publication of the work took place in 2011.

The assassination of J.F. Kennedy became one of the greatest tragedies of American society. A popular politician was shot dead during a huge parade in front of thousands of Americans. Could the president have been saved? Surprisingly, the answer to this question is for a simple teacher to find out! Jake Epping - an ordinary resident small town, who works at a school and is not much different from thousands of his fellow citizens. However, by the will of fate, it is he who gets the chance to go through a time portal, which is located in the back room of the cafe of his old friend Al. The owner of the device has long wanted to find Kennedy's killer, but illness has ruined all plans, so Jake must replace him! Go back, straight to the 60s, live there for several years, identify the future executioner and stop him on the day of the terrible tragedy! Will he be able to change the course of history and even go back?

2. American Gods (Neil Gaiman)

American Gods is one of the best modern fantasy books ever written. English writer Neil Gaiman in 2001.

America. A haven for a huge number of migrants from all over the world. In search of a better life, people went to an unknown continent, hoping to settle there and find long-awaited happiness. However, they did not travel alone: ​​each visiting guest took with them a piece of their native culture. Gods, beliefs, rituals, customs - this is the true baggage of the migrants! Will different deities be able to get along together and what does such a neighborhood promise? Shadow, the main character, recently released from prison, will have to find out. Once free, he finds himself straight into a series of strange events and mysterious crimes that need to be unraveled.

3. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)

The book by contemporary American writer Khaled Hosseini closes the top three. The work was born in 2003.

What is true friendship? Sometimes adults find it very difficult to answer this question. Much easier for children. Amir and Hassan are two completely different boys who are connected by true friendship. Only one of them is an aristocrat, and the second is a poor servant! Coming from different social strata, they do not pay attention to the differences that are so important for adults. Playing, joking, sharing secrets and impressions, experiencing failures and experiencing grief, the boys gradually grow up, and their friendship only becomes stronger. One day, serious changes are coming to the country that will test their strength and scatter their friends in different directions. Can childhood friendship survive?

4. A Song of Ice and Fire (George Martin)

A Song of Ice and Fire is one of the most famous and best modern fantasy books. This is a whole series of works, consisting of five already published volumes. Two more books in the project. The first publication took place in 1996. The book gained particular popularity after the release of the series “Game of Thrones,” based on it, filmed by HBO.

The unique fantasy world is inhabited by far from kind fairies and cheerful gnomes. This is a world of several powerful powers who are desperately fighting for their hearts' content. Their goal is the throne of Westeros. Their means are weapons, intrigues, murders and rebellions. The Palace of Verteros is filled with vile and greedy people who are eager to seize the throne at any cost. There is no longer any place for honesty and nobility here. By arranging serious intrigues and organizing coups, the conspirators will do everything to undermine the situation in the kingdom. However, it is not only them that should be feared, because the cunning rulers of neighboring states are also not averse to snatching the “tasty morsel” during a cruel and blind turmoil! A real war for power is coming, ready to bury the old order forever.

5. The house in which... (Mariam Petrosyan)

“The House in Which...” is an interesting modern science fiction novel by the Armenian writer Mariam Petrosyan, published in 2009.

On the edge of the city there is a boarding house for abandoned children. This old and gray place seems very inhospitable and gloomy, but everything is not so simple... Once inside, a person can discover a new, unusual world in which there is more kindness and light than on the bright city streets. The pupils of the house are divided into groups, each of which has its own leader. There are no first and last names here - only bright nicknames. There is a lot of unknown here and very little that is familiar. These are miniature societies with their vices and virtues. Children learn about the world by growing up, changing and trying to find their place in it.

6. The Book Thief (Markus Zusak)

The Book Thief is a fascinating contemporary novel by an Australian writer, written in 2006.

Liesel Meminger - little german girl, whose childhood fell during a truly monstrous time. In 1939, the Nazi regime reached its peak, exterminating the disobedient and preparing to enslave the world. Horror, murder, robbery and terror became daily companions in the lives of those who did not suit new government. After the death of her husband, Frau Meminger moves, trying to find a quieter corner for her daughter. But in vain... Looking around, Liesel sees the chaos going on through the eyes of an innocent child who does not understand this cruel and strange world adults. Growing up quickly, she has to learn and rethink a lot.

7. Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn)

Gone Girl is one of the best modern thriller books. The work was published in 2012 and became the basis for the film of the same name.

How difficult it can be to recognize a person, even if you have lived with him for many years! An unusual incident changes the fate of the main character when his wife suddenly disappears. During a wild celebration of their wedding anniversary, a woman mysteriously disappears. The arriving police discover blood and signs of a struggle, deciding that the man killed his wife and hid her body. Now the confused man is left to solve this incredible puzzle himself. Who knows, maybe the solution will be even more monstrous than the disappearance itself...

8. Cloud Atlas (David Mitchell)

The novel Cloud Atlas was written in 2004 by an English writer. Its plot is a complex interweaving of stories and destinies that, at first glance, have nothing in common. An American lawyer stuck on a tropical island while a ship is being repaired; a young English musician forced to trade music and body in order to earn a piece of bread; a brave Californian journalist fighting against a powerful corporation; a London publisher facing criminals after the release of another bestseller; a clone from a Korean anti-utopia and a Hawaiian old man watching the decline of human civilization. All events and characters go through a complex path in different times, gradually intertwining together.

9. When I Was Real (Tom McCarthy)

Tom McCarthy's novel When I Was Real continues our top 10 best modern books.

Sudden disaster changed life young man, erasing his past. He finds himself in a long coma, from which he, fortunately, manages to get out. But such a long process did not pass without a trace: now he needs to learn to live again. Walk, move, work with your hands and talk. All past life comes in the form of vague memories, and the hero endlessly desires to return to his former self. Moreover, a certain large corporation is ready to pay him huge amounts of money in order to keep the cause of the incident secret. How are they connected? What happened that day? And how to become completely the same?

10. Anathem (Neal Stephenson)

And the top ten is completed by the modern science fiction book Anathem, written by American writer Neal Stevenson in 2008.

Arb - distant and mysterious planet, similar to Earth. People who worship science live here. Science, which completely replaced religion and managed to split society into two irreconcilable camps. The guardians of science are monks who were once scientists. They once worked and created for the benefit of progress, but their work led to something terrible. Now the monks live in the monastery, closed off from the outside, secular world. Their life is simple, calm and measured, but once every ten years a special date comes - a day when the two sides can change places. Monks will see the outside world, and secular people will be able to join the monastic life and worldview. One day, such a change led to terrifying consequences, and now the two sides must unite to prevent the impending disaster!

Reading any book takes time and often a lot of it. The number of books, one might say, is endless, but life, alas, is the opposite. This means that you don’t have to read everything. This is where difficulties arise: “What is good and what is bad?” But there is one small subtlety that makes it easier to find the answer to this question. Someone has already read any book before you. IN worst case- only the author and at best - millions and millions. But the number of people who have read a particular book does not always indicate the quality of the book. Moreover, people have very diverse tastes. This means that you should first choose people whose opinions you can rely on.

100 best writers and 100 best books
XIX-XX centuries

That's how it all began. The result is the plate shown below. This is the result of a generalization of about 20 ratings, opinions of various literary authorities, lists of laureates of various awards (including the Nobel Prize). There is nothing personally from me in these ratings (author of this text: Andrey Matveev). The only thing that is mine here is the choice of period (19-20 centuries). Of course, these ratings do not mean that all works must be read and the biographies of all writers must be studied from cover to cover. Moreover, this list is based mainly on English-American ratings with a bias, naturally, on English-language literature. However, the result obtained is interesting and seems worth getting acquainted with.

Andrey Matveev, 2001

Top 100 Writers

100 best books

If you decide to spend the evening reading interesting book, then the proposed list of popular literature will help you in choosing an artistic creation. Famous contemporary and classic writers offer readers some of today's most captivating works.

Based on reviews from fans fiction and demand for works in stores, a list of the TOP 10 most read books in Russia today was compiled.

The novel tops the top ten ratings English writer. The main characters do not yet know that their meeting will radically change their lives. Lou Clark has a boyfriend for whom she has no real feelings. The girl loves life and her job at the bar. And it seemed like nothing foreshadowed the emergence of problems that the girl would have to face in the near future.

Fate brings Lou together with a guy named Will Taylor. The young man received serious injuries from the motorcycle that hit him. His only goal is to find the culprit and take revenge.

But the acquaintance of Lou and Will becomes a turning point for the heroes on the path of life. They had to go through tests to find each other. The novel captivates with its eccentricity, where there is no hint of banality.

A work of fiction Dmitry Glukhovsky "Metro 2035" has become a sensational novel this year, which is a continuation of the previous parts: “Metro 2033” and “Metro 2034”.

Nuclear war has killed all life on the planet and people are forced to live in the subway.

In the final story of the trilogy, readers will find out whether humanity will be able to return to earth again, after a long imprisonment underground. The main character will still be Artyom, who is so beloved by book lovers. The fantastic dystopia rightfully ranks ninth among the most read books today.

The eighth position in the ranking is occupied by a psychological novel with elements of a detective story by a British writer. Paula Hawkins "The Girl on the Train". The young woman Rachel herself destroyed her family by becoming addicted to alcohol. She has nothing but an image perfect couple Jess and Jason, whose lives she watches from the train window. But one day this picture of a perfect relationship disappears. Jess disappears under strange circumstances.

Rachel, who had been drinking alcohol the day before, is trying to remember what happened and whether she has anything to do with the strange disappearance. She begins to investigate a mysterious case.

According to 2015 data, the bestseller is among the top 10 best-selling books in the country.

Donna Tart released the third part of the masterpiece psychological prose "Goldfinch". Art is closely intertwined with the fate of teenager Theodor Trekker, under tragic circumstances. A boy loses his mother in an explosion at an art gallery. Escaping from the rubble, the main character decides to take the painting with him. famous author Fabricius "The Goldfinch". The boy still has no idea how a work of art will influence his future destiny.

The novel has already fallen in love with many readers in Russia and rightfully occupies 7th place in the top 10 most popular books today.

New detective story by Russian writer Alexandra Marinina "Execution without malice" entered the top 10 most read books in Russia. Anastasia Kamenskaya and her service partner Yuri Korotkov come to a Siberian town to resolve personal issues. The trip becomes another investigation for the heroes into a mysterious wave of crimes. Professionals in their field will have to figure out how the murders of environmentalists and the fur farm that litters the surrounding area are connected. The reader is treated to an exciting story about an unusual investigation.

Immortal manuscript Mikhail Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita"- one of the most read books in Russia today.

This classic of world literature tells the story of true, devoted love and treacherous betrayal. The master of words managed to create a book within a book, where reality is intertwined with the other world and another era. The arbiter of human destinies will be dark world evil, doing good and justice. Bulgakov managed to combine the incompatible, so the novel remains firmly in the TOP 10.

"Planet Water" is a new work by Boris Akunin, which consists of three works. The first story, “Planet Water,” tells about the amazing adventures of Erast Petrovich Fandorin, who rushes in search of a maniac hiding on the island. For this reason, he has to interrupt the underwater expedition. The second part of the book “Lonely Sail” tells about the hero’s investigation into a murder. The victim turns out to be Erast Petrovich's former lover. The final story, “Where Should We Go,” introduces the reader to the robbery case. Main character looking for clues that will lead him to the criminals. The book was published in 2015 and is quickly gaining popularity among today's readers.

Paulo Coelho became popular in Russia thanks to his philosophical creation "Alchemist". The parable tells about the shepherd Santiago, who is in search of treasure. The hero's journey ends with the discovery of true value. The young man meets an alchemist and comprehends philosophical science. The purpose of life is not material wealth, but love and doing good deeds for all humanity. The book has remained the most read in Russia for many years.

Professor Robert Langdon has to solve the murder mystery. The code that was found next to the murdered museum employee will help the hero with this. The solution to the crime lies in immortal creations Leonardo da Vinci, and the code is the key to them.

The most read book in Russia today is dystopia George Orwell "1984". This is a story about a world where there is no place for true feelings. Absurd ideology, brought to the point of automatism, rules here. Consumer society considers the ideology of the Party to be the only correct one. But among the “dead souls” there are those who do not want to put up with the existing foundations. The main character of the novel, Winston Smith, finds a like-minded person in Julia. A man falls in love with a girl, and together they try to take steps to change the current situation. The couple is soon declassified and tortured. Smith “breaks down” and renounces his ideas and his lover. The book about the totalitarian regime of government remains popular throughout the world to this day.

Modern domestic literature rich in variety of names. Many book resources compile their own ratings of the most readable authors, bestselling books, top selling books (RoyalLib.com, bookz.ru, LitRes. Ozon.ru, Labirint.ru, Read-Gorod, LiveLib.ru). We present the “twenty” of the most popular contemporary writers in Russia, whose works can be found in the collection of the Centralized library system Volgodonsk.

Speaking about modern Russian literature, one cannot help but recall the masters of writing novels.

Lyudmila Ulitskaya. A bright representative of Russian literature of the post-Soviet period. She began writing prose when she was already over forty. In her own words: “First I raised children, then I became a writer.” The first collection of stories by the writer, “Poor Relatives,” was published in 1993 in France and was published in French. Ulitskaya’s book “Medea and Her Children” brought her to the finalists for the 1997 Booker Prize and made her truly famous. The “Big Book” prize was awarded to: the collection of stories “Our Tsar’s People”, “Daniel Stein, Translator”, which soon received bestseller status. In 2011, Ulitskaya presented the novel “The Green Tent,” which tells about dissidents and the lives of people of the “sixties” generation. The writer’s autobiographical prose and essays were included in the book “Sacred Trash,” published in 2012. Fans of the writer characterize her work exclusively as bold, subtle, and intelligent.

Dina Rubina. Critics often call her a “women's writer,” although her novel On the Sunny Side of the Street won her third Big Book Prize in 2007, when the first went to Ulitskaya's Stein. The 2004 novel “The Syndicate,” which describes the Moscow branch of the Israeli agency “Sokhnut” with a satirical intonation, quarreled her with many in Israel. But Russian readers still remain big fans of her work. The story “When Will It Snow” brought particular popularity to the author. The work went through several editions, was filmed, and played on theater stages. The writer's books are distinguished by their colorful language, colorful characters, rough sense of humor, adventurous plots and ability to speak clearly about complex problems and things. From latest works- trilogy “Russian Canary”. The plot, the character of the characters, the Rubin language - it’s impossible to tear yourself away from all this!

Aleksey Ivanov.High-quality Russian prose in the genre of realism. The words of one critic that “Alexei Ivanov’s prose is the gold and foreign exchange reserves of Russian literature” are often reproduced on the covers of his books. Ivanov's heroes - be they the mythical Voguls of the 15th century ("Heart of Parma"), semi-mythical raftsmen of the 18th century ("Gold of Rebellion") or mythologized modern Permians ("The Geographer Drank the Globe Away"), speak a special language and think in a special way. All works are very different, but they are united by the author’s subtle humor, which gradually turns into satire. The writer Alexey Ivanov is notable for the fact that, while emphasizing his “provincialism,” he nevertheless carefully ensures that the plot follows all the laws of a Hollywood action movie in any novel. His latest novel, Bad Weather, was received ambiguously by the reading public. Some talk about the cardboardness and lifelessness of the characters, the hackneyed nature of the criminal theme, others speak with delight about the writer’s ability to create a portrait of our contemporary - a man brought up during socialism, who received a good Soviet education, and during the global breakdown of society, he was left alone with his conscience and questions. Isn't this a reason to read the novel and form your own opinion about it?

Oleg Roy. Bright name among novelists. He lived outside of Russia for a little over a decade. It was at this time that his creative career as a writer began. The title of the debut novel, “Mirror,” was presented to post-Soviet readers as “Amalgam of Happiness.” After this book he became famous in book circles. O. Roy is the author of more than two dozen books of various genres for adults and children, as well as articles in popular print publications. The writer's work will appeal to those who simply love good prose. He writes in the genre of urban novel - life stories, slightly seasoned with mysticism, which gives the author’s work a special flavor.

Pavel Sanaev.The book “Bury Me Behind the Baseboard” was highly appreciated by critics and readers - a story in which the theme of growing up seems to be turned upside down and takes on the features of surreal humor! A book in which the very idea of ​​a happy childhood is parodied in a homerically funny and subtly evil way. The continuation of the now cult story was published only in 2010 under the title “The Chronicles of Razdolbay.”

Evgeny Grishkovets. He started out as a playwright and performer of his plays, but then the dramatic stage seemed not enough for him. He added music studies to this, and then turned to prose writing, releasing the novel “The Shirt.” It was followed by a second book, “Rivers.” Both works, judging by the reviews, were warmly received by readers. Short stories and collections of stories began to be published. Despite the fact that the author works very seriously on each of his works and then proudly notes that his “author’s position” in this book is not at all similar to the “author’s position” in the previous one, one gets the impression that Grishkovets, with his plays, performances, in prose and songs all his life he writes the same text of his name. And at the same time, each of his viewers/readers can say: “He wrote this directly about me.” The author’s best books: “Asphalt”, “A...a”, collections of stories “Plank” and “Traces on Me”.

Zakhar Prilepin.His name is known to the widest circle readers. Prilepin spent his childhood and youth in the USSR, and grew up in the difficult 90s of the 20th century. Hence the frequent reviews of him as the “voice of generations.” Zakhar Prilepin was a participant in the Chechen campaigns of 1996 and 1999. His first novel, “Pathology,” which tells about the war in Chechnya, was written by the author in 2003. The writer’s best books are social novels“Sin” and “Sankya”, in which he shows the life of modern youth. Most of the author’s books were warmly received by the public and critics; “Sin” received rave reviews from fans and two awards: “National Bestseller” and “Loyal Sons of Russia.” The writer also has the “Supernational Best” award, which is given for best prose decade, as well as the All-China Best Foreign Novel Award. The new novel, “The Abode,” about life in the Solovetsky special purpose camp, became a bestseller due to its historical and artistic content.

Oksana Robski.She made her debut as a writer with the novel “Casual,” which laid the foundation for the genre of “secular realism” in Russian literature. Books by Oksana Robski - “The Day of Happiness is Tomorrow”, “About LuOFF/ON”, “Oysters in the Rain”, “Casual 2. Dancing with Head and Feet”, etc. caused numerous and contradictory reviews from critics. According to some observers, the novels truthfully reproduce the atmosphere of “Rublevka” and indicate the lack of spirituality and artificiality of the world of the so-called Rublevka wives. Other critics point out numerous inconsistencies and say that Robski's works have little to do with the realities of everyday life of the business elite. The artistic merits of her works are generally assessed as low; some critics emphasize that at high artistic tasks Robski, in fact, does not pretend, but sets out the events easily, dynamically and in clear language.

Boris Akunin.Fiction writer. Akunin is a pseudonym, and not the only one. She also publishes her works of art under the names of Anna Borisova and Anatoly Brusnikin. And in life - Grigory Chkhartishvili. The author became famous for his novels and stories from the “New Detective” series (“The Adventures of Erast Fandorin”). He also created the series “Provincial Detective” (“The Adventures of Sister Pelagia”), “The Adventures of the Master”, “Genres”. In each of his “brainchild”, a creative person amazingly combines literary text with cinematic visuality. Positive reviews readers testify to the popularity of all stories without exception.

Many readers prefer detective genres and adventure literature.

Alexandra Marinina. She is called by critics nothing less than the queen, the prima donna of the Russian detective story. Her books are read in one sitting. They are distinguished by realistic plots, which makes the reader wholeheartedly experience the events that happen to the characters, empathize with them and think about important life issues. Some of the author's new works, which have already become bestsellers: "Execution without malice", “Angels Can’t Survive on Ice,” “Last Dawn.”

Polina Dashkova.The writer gained wide fame after the publication of the detective novel “Blood of the Unborn” in 1997. During the period 2004-2005. The author’s novels “A Place in the Sun” and “Cherub” were filmed. The writer's style is characterized by vivid characters, an exciting plot, and good style.

Elena Mikhalkova. Critics say she is a master of the "life" detective story. The best books of the writer are detective stories in which all the characters have their own story, which is no less interesting to the reader than the main one. story line. The author takes ideas for plots for his works from everyday life: a conversation with a supermarket salesperson, leaflet texts, family conversation at breakfast, etc. The plots of her works are always thought out to the smallest details, making each book very easy to read. Among the most popular books: “The Whirlpool of Other People’s Desires”, “Cinderella and the Dragon”.

Anna and Sergei Litvinov. They write in the genres of adventure and detective literature. These authors know how to keep the reader in suspense. They have written more than 40 novels together: “The Golden Maiden”, “Sky Island”, “The Sad Demon of Hollywood”, “Fate Has Another Name” and many others. In their reviews, readers admit that the Litvinovs are masters of intrigue and exciting plots. They harmoniously combine a mysterious crime, colorful characters and a love line in their texts.

One of the most popular literary genres among Russian readers is female love story.

Anna Berseneva. This is the literary pseudonym of Tatyana Sotnikova. She wrote her first novel, Confusion, in 1995. Anna Berseneva is the only author who managed to populate modern women's novels with extraordinary male heroes. After all, it is the lack of expressive male characters, according to sociologists, that is the reason that women's novels are practically absent from the domestic book market. A series of novels by A. Berseneva about several generations of the Grinev family - “An Unequal Marriage”, “The Last Eve”, “The Age of Third Love”, “The Catcher of Small Pearls”, “The First, the Accidental, the Only” - formed the basis for the multi-part television film “Captain’s Children” "

Ekaterina Vilmont. Her books are loved by readers all over Russia. She wrote her first romance novel at the age of 49 (“The Journey of an Optimist, or All Women are Fools”). Then I tried myself in the children's detective genre. In her women's novels, Vilmont reveals the inner world of modern, mature, independent women who are able to control circumstances, talk about their failures and victories, tragedies and joys, and about what worries every reader - about love. Ekaterina Vilmont's novels are full of humor, cheerfulness and witty titles: “In Search of Treasures”, “The Happiness Hormone and Other Nonsense”, “Incredible Luck”, “With All the Dope!” , "An Intellectual and Two Ritas". It's ironic, light, lively prose, which is read in one breath and charges readers with optimism and self-confidence.

Maria Metlitskaya. Her works appeared on the market of modern women's love literature relatively recently, but have already managed to win the respect of fans. The first novel has been published since 2011. The writer's best books are known for their precision of detail, life-affirming mood and light humor. Reviews from her fans indicate that these books helped them find a way out of difficult life situations. Today, the list of the writer’s works includes more than 20 novels and stories. Among her latest works, it is worth highlighting the following: “Our Little Life”, “Mistake of Youth”, “The Road to Two Streets”, “Faithful Husband”, “Her last Hero" and others.

In Russian modern science fiction there is a whole galaxy of talented writers whose names and works deserve attention.

Sergei Lukyanenko. One of the most widely circulated authors among science fiction writers. The first circulation of his book “The Last Watch” was 200 thousand copies. Films based on his novels have become important factor increasing popularity. Blockbuster releases " The night Watch" and "Day Watch" increased the circulation of books by this author more than seven times.

Nick Perumov.He gained widespread fame after his first publication in 1993 of the epic "The Ring of Darkness", set in the Middle-earth of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. From novel to novel, Nick's style becomes more and more individual and unique, and the initial opinion of critics and him as a Tolkienist is a thing of the past. The best books by Perumov and his series are included in the treasury of the Russian fantastic literature: “The Chronicles of Hjervard”, “Chronicles of the Rift”, “Soul Stealers”, “Black Blood” and many others.

Andrey Rubanov.His fate was not easy: he had to work as a driver and bodyguard in the difficult 90s, and live in the Chechen Republic at the height of the military campaign. But it gave him the necessary life experience and helped me successfully start my journey in literature. The most flattering reviews were earned by the works that are rightly included in the list of the best books of the science fiction writer: “Chlorophylia”, “Plant and it will grow”, “Living Earth”.

Max Fry.The author's genre is urban fantasy. Her books are for people who have not lost faith in fairy tales. Stories about ordinary life and a light syllable can captivate any reader. What makes the image of the main character popular and extraordinary is the attractive contrast: the male external role and behavior and the female motives for action, the way of describing and assessing what is happening. Among the popular works: “The Power of the Unfulfilled (collection)”, “Volunteers of Eternity”, “Obsessions”, “Simple Magical Things”, “The Dark Side”, “Stranger”.

These are not all the names of modern Russian literature. The world of Russian works is diverse and fascinating. Read, learn, discuss - live with the times!

Books are one of the greatest legacies of humanity. And if before the invention of printing, books were available only to a select caste of people, then books began to spread everywhere. Each new generation gave birth to talented writers who created world masterpieces of literature.

Great works have reached us, but we are reading the classics less and less. Literary portal Hedwig presents to your attention the 100 best books of all time that you must read. On this list you will find not only classic works, but also modern books that have left their mark on history quite recently.

1 Mikhail Bulgakov

A novel that does not fit into the usual literary framework. This story mixes philosophy and everyday life, theology and fantasy, mysticism and realism, mysticism and lyricism. And all these components are intertwined with skillful hands into a solid and bright story, which can turn your world upside down. And yes, this is Bookly’s favorite book!

2 Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky

A book from the school curriculum that is difficult to understand in the tender teenage years. The writer showed the duality of the human soul, when black is intertwined with white. The story is about Raskolnikov, who is going through an internal struggle.

3 Antoine de Saint-Exupery

A small story that contains a huge life meaning. A story that makes you look at familiar things differently.

4 Michael Bulgakov

A surprisingly subtle and sarcastic story about people and their vices. The story is about an experiment that proved that you can make a human out of an animal, but you cannot take an “animal” out of a human.

5 Erich Maria Remarque

It is impossible to tell what this novel is about. You need to read the novel, and then you will understand that this is not just a story, but a confession. Confession about love, friendship, pain. A story of despair and struggle.

6 Jerome Salinger

The story of a teenager who shows with his own eyes his perception of the world, his point of view, his renunciation of the usual principles and principles of morality of society that do not fit into his individual framework.

7 Mikhail Lermontov

A lyrical and psychological novel that tells the story of a man with complex character. The author shows it from different sides. And the disrupted chronology of events makes you completely immerse yourself in the narrative.

8 Arthur Conan Doyle

The legendary investigations of the great detective Sherlock, which reveal the meanness of the human soul. Stories told by friend and assistant detective Dr. Watson.

9 Oscar Wilde

A story about pride, selfishness and a strong soul. A story that clearly shows what can happen to a person’s soul tormented by vices.

10 John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

A fantastic trilogy about people and non-humans who fell under the power of the One Ring and its lord Sauron. The story is about those who are ready to sacrifice the most precious things and even their lives for the sake of friendship and saving the world.

11 Mario Puzo

A novel about one of the most powerful mafia families in America of the last century - the Corleone family. Many people know the film, so it’s time to start reading.

12 Erich Maria Remarque

After the First World War, many emigrants ended up in France. Among them is the talented German surgeon Ravik. This is the story of his life and love against the backdrop of the war he experienced.

13 Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol

The story of the Russian soul and stupidity. A amazing style and the author’s language makes the sentences sparkle with colors and shades that fully reveal the history of our people.

14 Colin McCullough

A stunning novel that tells not only about the love of a man and a woman and complex relationships, but also about feelings for family, native places and nature.

15 Emily Brontë

A family lives on a secluded estate and there is a tense atmosphere in their home. Difficult relationships have deep roots that are hidden in the past. The story of Heathcliff and Catherine will not leave any reader indifferent.

16 Erich Maria Remarque

A book about the war from the perspective of a simple soldier. The book is about how war breaks and cripples the souls of innocent people.

17 Hermann Hesse

The book simply turns all ideas about life upside down. After reading it, it is no longer possible to get rid of the feeling that you are one step closer to something incredible. This book has answers to many questions.

18 Stephen King

Paul Edgecombe is a former prison officer who served in the death row unit. It tells the life story of suicide bombers who were destined to walk the Green Mile.

20 Victor Hugo

Paris 15th century. On one side it is full of grandeur, and on the other it looks like a sewer. On the background historical events A love story unfolds between Quasimodo, Esmeralda and Claude Frollo.

21 Daniel Defoe

The diary of a sailor who was shipwrecked and lived alone on an island for 28 years. He had to go through too many trials.

22 Lewis Carroll

A strange and mysterious story about a girl who, in pursuit of a white rabbit, finds herself in another and wonderful world.

23 Ernest Hemingway

There is war on the pages of the book, but even in a world full of pain and fear, there is a place for beauty. To a wonderful feeling called love, which makes us stronger.

24 Jack London

What can love do? Martin's love for the beautiful Ruth made him struggle. He overcame many obstacles to become something great. A story about spiritual development and personality formation.

25 Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

A fantastic and fascinating fairy tale in which magic intertwines with reality.

26 We are Evgeny Zamyatin

The novel is a dystopia, which describes an ideal society where there is no personal opinion, and everything happens according to schedule. But even in such a society there is a place for freethinkers.

27 Ernest Hemingway

Frederick volunteered to go to war, where he became a doctor. In the sanitary unit, where even the air is saturated with death, love is born.

28 Boris Pasternak

Beginning of the twentieth century. Russian empire has already embarked on the path of revolution. The story is about the life of the intelligentsia of that time, as well as the book raises questions of religion and touches on the mystery of life and death.

29 Vladimir Nabokov

A cautionary tale about people who betrayed their ideals. The book is about how bright and beautiful feelings evolve into something dark and disgusting.

30 Johann Wolfgang Goethe

The greatest work that draws you into the story of Faust, who sold his soul to the Devil. By reading this book you can walk the path of learning about life.

31 Dante Alighieri

The work consists of three parts. First we go to Hell to complete all 9 circles. Then Purgatory awaits us, through which we can atone for our sins. And only by reaching the top can you enter Paradise.

32 Anthony Burgess

Not the most pleasant story, but it shows human nature. A story about how you can make an obedient and silent doll out of any person.

33 Victor Pelevin

A complex story that is difficult to understand the first time. A story about the life of a decadent poet who is looking for his own path, and Chapaev leads Peter to enlightenment.

34 William Golding

What will happen to the children if they find themselves completely alone? Children have a delicate nature, which is quite susceptible to vices. And sweet, kind children turn into real monsters.

35 Albert Camus

36 James Clavell

The story of an English sailor who, by the will of fate, ended up in Japan. An epic novel with historical realities, intrigue, adventures and secrets.

37 Ray Bradbury

A collection of science fiction stories telling about the life of people on Mars. They almost destroyed the Earth, but what awaits the other planet?

38 Stanislav Lem

There is an Ocean on this planet. He is alive and he has a mind. Researchers face the difficult task of transferring knowledge to the ocean. And he will help make their dreams come true...

39 Hermann Hesse

The book is about an internal crisis that can happen to anyone. Inner devastation can destroy a person if one day you don’t meet a person on the way who will give you just one book...

40 Milan Kundera

Plunge into the world of sensations and feelings of the libertine Tomas, who is used to changing women, so that no one dares to take away his freedom.

41 Boris Vian

Each of the group of friends has their own destiny. Everything goes easy and simple. Friendship. Love. Conversations. But one event can change everything and destroy your usual life.

42 Iain Banks

Frank tells the story of his childhood and describes the present. He has his own world, which can collapse at any moment. Unexpected turning points in the plot add a special flavor to the whole story.

43 John Irving

This book raises themes of family, childhood, friendship, love, betrayal and betrayal. This is the world we live in with all the problems and shortcomings.

44 Michael Ondaatje

This book contains many themes - war, death, love, betrayal. But the main leitmotif is loneliness, which can take on a variety of forms.

46 Ray Bradbury

Books are our future, but what will happen if they are replaced by TV and one opinion? The answer to this question is given by a writer who was ahead of his time.

47 Patrick Suskind

The story of a mad genius. His whole life is wrapped in smells. He will go to any lengths to create the perfect scent.

48 1984 George Orwell

Three totalitarian states where even thoughts are controlled. The world is hateful, but there are people who can still resist the system.

49 Jack London

Alaska at the end of the 19th century. The era of the gold rush. And among human greed lives a wolf named White Fang.

50 Jane Austen

The Bennett family has only daughters, and the heir is a distant relative. And once the head of the family dies, the young girls will be left with nothing.

51 Evgeny Petrov and Ilya Ilf

Who doesn’t know Ostap Bender and Kisa Vorobyaninov and their eternal failures, which are associated with the search for ill-fated diamonds.

52 Fedor Dostoevsky

53 Charlotte Bronte

Jane became an orphan early, and life in her aunt's house was far from happy. And love for a strict and gloomy man is far from a romantic story.

54 Ernest Hemingway

A short story from my own life ordinary person. But reading this work, you penetrate into amazing world, which is full of emotions.

55 Francis Scott Fitzgerald

A great novel that is filled with feelings. On the pages of the book awaits the beginning of the 20th century, when people were full of illusions and hopes. This story is about life values And true love.

56 Alexandr Duma

We are all familiar with the adventures of d'Artagnan and his closest friends. A book about friendship, honor, devotion, fidelity and love. And of course, like other works of the author, it was not without intrigue.

57 Ken Kesey

This story is told to the reader by a patient in a psychiatric hospital. Patrick McMurphy ends up in prison, in a psychiatric ward. But some people think that he is simply faking his illness.

59 Victor Hugo

The novel describes the life of an escaped convict who is hiding from the authorities. After escaping, he had to endure a lot of hardships, but he was able to change his life. But police inspector Javert is ready to do anything to catch the criminal.

60 Victor Hugo

The actor-philosopher met on his way a disfigured boy and a blind girl. He takes them under his wing. Against the background of physical defects, the perfection and purity of souls is clearly visible. It’s also a great contrast to the life of the aristocracy.

61 Vladimir Nabokov

The novel tightens its unhealthy web of passions and unhealthy love. The main characters gradually go crazy, dominated by their base desires, like the entire world around them. This book definitely won't have a happy ending.

62 Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

A fantastic story that describes the life of stalker Redrick Shewhart, who anomalous zones on Earth extracts extraterrestrial artifacts.

63 Richard Bach

Even a simple seagull can get tired of the drab life, and become bored with everyday life. And then Chaika devotes her life to her dream. The seagull gives his whole soul on the way to his cherished goal.

64 Bernard Werber

Michel ended up at the court of the archangels, where he will have to undergo the weighing of his soul. After the trial, he faces a choice - to go to earth in a new incarnation or become an angel. The path of an angel is not simple, just like the life of mere mortals.

65 Ethel Lilian Voynich

A story about freedom, duty and honor. And also about different types love. In the first case, it is the love of a father for his son, which has survived many trials and will pass through generations. In the second case, it is love between a man and a woman, which is like a fire, then goes out, then flares up again.

66 John Fowles

He is a simple town hall servant, lonely and lost. He has a passion - collecting butterflies. But one day he wanted to add to his collection a girl who captivated his soul.

67 Walter Scott

The narrative of the novel will take readers into the distant past. During the time of Richard the Lionheart and the first crusades. This is one of the first historical novels that everyone must read.

68 Bernhard Schlink

There are a lot of questions in the book that remain unanswered. The book makes you think and analyze not only what is happening on the pages, but also your life. This is a story about love and betrayal that will not leave anyone indifferent.

69 Ayn Rand

Socialists come to power and set a course for equal opportunities. The authorities believe that the talented and rich should improve the well-being of others. But instead of a happy future, the familiar world is plunging into chaos.

71 Somerset Maugham

The story of an actress who has worked in the theater all her life. And what is reality for her: acting on stage or acting in life? How many roles do you have to play every day?

72 Aldous Huxley

Dystopian novel. Satire novel. A world where Henry Ford became a god, and the creation of the first Ford T car is considered the beginning of time. People are simply raised, but they don’t know anything about feelings.

75 Albert Camus

Meursault lives a detached life. It seems that his life does not belong to him at all. He is indifferent to everything and even his actions are saturated with loneliness and renunciation of life.

76 Somerset Maugham

Philip's life story. He is an orphan and throughout his life he not only searches for the meaning of life, but also for himself. And the main thing is to understand the world and people around us.

77 Irvine Welsh

The story of friends who one day discovered drugs and euphoria. Each character is unusual and quite smart. They valued life and friendship, but only until the moment when heroin came first.

78 Herman Melville

Ahab, the captain of a whaling ship, set the goal of his life to take revenge on a whale named Moby Dick. Wit ruin too many lives to let him live. But as soon as the captain starts hunting, mysterious and sometimes terrible events begin to happen on his ship.

79 Joseph Heller

One of the best books about World War II. In it, the author was able to show the senselessness of war and the monstrous absurdity of the state machine.

80 William Faulkner

Four characters, each telling their own version of events. And to understand what we're talking about, you need to read to the end, where the puzzles will fit into a single picture of life and secret desires.

82 Joanne Rowling

83 Roger Zelazny

A classic of the fantasy genre. The chronicles are divided into two volumes of 5 books. In this cycle you can find travel in space and time, wars, intrigue, betrayal, as well as loyalty and courage.

84 Andrzej Sapkowski

One of the best fantasy series. The series includes 8 books, with the last one being “Season of Thunderstorms”, which is best read after the first or second book. This is a story about the Witcher and his adventures, his life and love, and also about the girl Ciri, who can change the world.

85 Honore de Balzac

An amazing story about the boundless and sacrificial love of a father for his children. About love that was never mutual. About the love that destroyed Father Goriot.

86 Gunther Grass

The story is about a boy named Oskar Matzerath, who, when the National Socialists came to power in Germany, refuses to grow up in protest. Thus, he expresses his protest to the changes in German society.

87 Boris Vasiliev

A poignant story of war. About true love for parents, friends, and the Motherland. This story must be read to feel the entire emotional component of this story.

88 Stendhal

The story is about Julien Sorel and the soul, in which there is a confrontation between two feelings: passion and ambition. These two feelings are so intertwined that it is often impossible to distinguish between them.

89 Lev Tolstoy

An epic novel that describes an entire era, delving into historical realities and art world that time. War will be replaced by peace, and peaceful life characters depends on the war. Many heroes with unique personalities.

90 Gustave Flaubert

This story is recognized as the greatest work of world literature. Emma Bovary dreams of a beautiful social life, but her husband, a provincial doctor, cannot satisfy her requests. She finds lovers, but will they be able to fulfill Madame Bovary's dream?

91 Chuck Palahniuk

No matter how much the work of this author is criticized, it cannot be denied that his book “ Fight club"is one of the symbols of our generation. This is a story about people who decided to change this dirty world. The story is about a man who was able to resist the system.

92 Markus Zusak

Winter Germany in 1939, when Death has too much work, and after six months the work will increase significantly. A story about Liesel, about fanatical Germans, about a Jewish fighter, about thefts and about the power of words.

93 Alexander Pushkin

The novel in verse tells the story of the fate of the noble intelligentsia with their vices and selfishness. And at the center of the story is a love story without a happy ending.

94 George Martin

A fantastic story about another world ruled by kings and dragons. Love, betrayal, intrigue, war and death, all for the sake of power.

95 David Mitchell

History of past, present and future. Stories of people from different times. But these stories make up a single picture of our entire world.

96 Stephen King

A fantastic series of novels by the master of horrors. This series interweaves genres. The books closely coexist with horror, western, Science fiction and other genres. This is the story of the gunslinger Roland, who is searching for the Dark Tower.

97 Haruki Murakami

A story about human destinies in Japan in the 60s of the twentieth century. A story about human loss. Memoirs of Tooru, which will introduce the reader to different people and their stories.

98 Andy Weir

By chance, an astronaut is left alone at a space base on Mars. He has a limited amount of resources, but no connection with people. But he doesn’t give up, he believes that they will come back for him.

100 Samuel Beckett

An amazing play where everyone determines for themselves the mysterious personality of Godot. The author gives you the opportunity to find the answer to the question “who is he?” A specific person? Strong personality? Collective image? Or God?

I would like to include many more books in this top. That's why, dear readers, write in the comments about the books that you think are the best. We will add books to the top and, with your help, expand it to the 1000 best books of all times.